Philosophers & Foundations
He argued that people are born with natural rights like "life, liberty, and property".
Who is John Locke?
The primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
The introduction to the Constitution that begins with "We the People".
What is the Preamble?
The first constitution of the United States, which created a very weak central government.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
The power of the President to reject a bill passed by Congress.
What is the Veto?
This term describes an agreement where people give up some freedom in exchange for government protection.
What is the Social Contract?
According to the Declaration, these are three unalienable rights granted to all people.
What are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?
This article outlines the powers and structure of the Legislative Branch.
What is Article I?
This event showed that the Articles of Confederation were too weak to maintain order.
What is Shays' Rebellion?
The power of the Supreme Court to declare a law unconstitutional.
What is Judicial Review?
Enlightenment thinker who advocated for the separation of powers into three branches.
Who is Montesquieu?
The main purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to justify this action to the world.
What is breaking away/declaring independence from Great Britain?
This article establishes the Executive Branch.
What is Article II?
This compromise settled the dispute between large and small states regarding representation.
What is the Great Compromise?
Congress can check the President by overriding a veto with this fraction of a vote.
What is two-thirds (2/3)?
Hobbes believed the best form of government was an absolute monarchy, while Locke favored this type of government based on consent.
What is a Limited Government/Democracy?
This phrase in the Declaration means that government gets its power from the people.
What is "Consent of the Governed"?
This article establishes the Judicial Branch, including the Supreme Court.
What is Article III?
This compromise determined how enslaved people would be counted for representation and taxation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
The Senate checks the Executive branch by confirming these, such as Cabinet secretaries and Supreme Court Justices.
What are Presidential Appointments?
This Thomas Hobbes concept describes life without government, which he called "nasty, brutish, and short".
Jefferson used this philosophical idea to argue that if a government fails to protect rights, the people can abolish it.
What is the Right to Revolution/Social Contract?
his article establishes the Constitution as the "Supreme Law of the Land".
What is Article VI (Supremacy Clause)?
These were the two main groups that argued over the ratification of the Constitution.
Who are the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
This is the only body authorized to impeach a President.
What is the House of Representatives?